[Non-Sequitur]

I fully agree. Lee did have a third option also and that would have been to do as you suggest, bide his time in Gettysburg, while he allowed his troops some rest, strengthened his lines of supply and sent small foraging parties out to wreak what havoc they could in say a 20-30 mile radius of Gettysburg.

Lee had no line of supply. His army was living off the land, just as Sherman's would do a year later. Remaining in one place would defeat his goal of gathering food and supplies to take south with him when he returned to help tide him through the winter. By remaining in place then in a short period of time he wouldn't be able to feed his army.

[Michael.SF.]

Lee had no line of supply

To where and when do your refer? Gettysburg only, during the entire course of the war or ??